The 12th Cairo International Festival for Children’s Films was opened Friday at the Grand Theater of the Egyptian Opera House by dancing shows under the banner “Innocence”. Many children’s troupes participated in the opening ceremony under the direction of Khaled Galal, according to the local press.

The festival organizers specified a special ceremony for the Palestinian children under the banner “Ghosn al Zayroun.. Tahiyya Le al Somoud” (Olive Tree Branch.. Salute for Resistance) during which seven shows on the Palestinian issue and children will be performed. These include the documentary film al Tayr al Akhdar (Green Bird) by Palestinian poet and director Liana Bader through which she depicts the suffering of the Palestinian families in the City of Ramallah in the West Bank and their simple hopes to achieve their rights in education and life.

The Egyptian film al Ghadahab (Anger) by the director Muna Abu al Naser depicts the resistance of the Palestinians to the Israeli occupation while the film Madrasat al Shuhada (Martyrs’ School) by the director Sherif Ramadhan tells about a Palestinian kid whom an Israeli soldier prevents from reaching school.

The opening ceremony exhibited musical and acrobatic segments in addition to a showing of the American children's movie monsters inc.

A number of Egyptian and Arab film stars attended the opening ceremony along with a large number of mentally and physically challenged children from different Arab countries.

23 Arab and foreign countries are participating in the festival, which will continue until March 21, with 206 long and short narrative films, cartoons and TV programs. Among the participating nations are 9 Arab countries with 85 works. Iran will screen 34 long and short narrative films while Egypt will participate with 22 TV programs and cartoons including al Shibr Wa Nuss and one narrative film entitled Malak Bila Agnihah (Angle Without Wings).

14 films from 11 countries including five from Egypt will participate in the first contest. Other participating nations include Sweden, Iran, India, Greece, Iceland, Britain, Canada, Syria and Holland. 40 cartoon films and TV programs on children from 13 nations will also compete in the festival’s contest.

The festival, which was inaugurated by the Egyptian culture minister Farouq Husni and the festival's director Fawzi Fahmi, will last for a week -- Albawaba.com